The Path to the Academy
Morning at Leon's house felt brighter than usual, though the cold air still crept in through the cracks in the windows. Satya sat at the dining table, eating toast with hands still slightly trembling from his morning training. Across from him, Leon watched him with a serious expression. The old man's sword leaned against the wall, a silent reminder of the duty that awaited them.
"Satya," Leon said in a deep voice full of authority. "Soon, the Kingdom of Asran will hold an exam for becoming a soldier. This is no ordinary exam. For three years, you will be trained at the academy—learning swordsmanship, magic, strategy, and most importantly, how to become a Holy Knight. Only the best will graduate."
Satya stared at his teacher, eyes widening. The bread in his hand was forgotten. "Three years? A Holy Knight?" he murmured, and his heart pounded. The dream that had only existed as a shadow in his mind now felt real—so close, yet terrifying.
Leon nodded, his gaze never leaving the young man. "The exam will begin in two months. You must strengthen yourself, Satya. If you fail, you not only disgrace yourself but also me as your teacher. Don't make me regret taking you in."
Those words hit Satya hard, but instead of weakening him, they ignited his resolve. He clenched his fists under the table, remembering his family taken by goblins, his promise to Alicia, and the small blow he once landed on Leon. "I won't disappoint you, Master," he said. His voice was firm, though it quivered slightly. "I will pass that exam."
Leon only nodded, but a hint of pride flickered in his eyes. "We'll see."
The next two months were grueling for Satya. He pushed himself to the limit. His training now focused on swordsmanship, and Leon was his main opponent. Every morning, they dueled in the backyard. Their wooden swords clashed with loud clangs, like the song of steel sparking the spirit. Satya still lost often—Leon was too fast, too strong—but he started to follow the movements of the Fang of Asran. He learned to read Leon's attack patterns, dodge more nimbly, and sometimes managed to parry strikes with his own blade.
"Good, Satya!" Leon shouted one morning when Satya's wooden sword nearly grazed his shoulder. "But don't get overconfident. Demons won't give you time to smile."
Though his breath was ragged, Satya smiled faintly. Every defeat was a lesson, and every scrape on his sword was a step closer to his dream. At night, when his body was near collapse from exhaustion, he sat in his room, looking at a piece of cloth from his mother, and whispered, "I'm getting closer, Mother. Wait for me."
Day after day passed, week after week shrank. Training continued. He didn't just sharpen his sword skills but also strengthened his body—running with weights on his back, climbing training walls, and practicing balance on narrow wooden beams. Leon always watched with sharp eyes, occasionally throwing short praises that felt like treasure to Satya.
One afternoon as the sun began to set behind the mountains, the sound of a horse-drawn carriage echoed in the front yard of Leon's house. Satya, who was swinging his sword in the field, stopped his training and turned. From the carriage, Alicia jumped down. Her green dress fluttered in the wind, and her face glowed with excitement, like during the last festival. Leon, who had been sitting on the porch with a flat expression, instantly beamed. His face transformed into that of a loving grandfather.
"Alicia, my little girl!" he exclaimed, walking quickly to hug his granddaughter. "Why didn't you say you were coming?"
"I wanted to surprise you, Grandpa! Besides, Mom and Dad had business in town, so I came along," Alicia replied, laughing and hugging Leon tightly.
When the hug ended, Alicia turned to Satya. The young man stood with a sword in hand, sweat soaking his shirt. She looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow. "Wow, farmer boy," she said, her tone half-mocking, but with a hint of hidden admiration. "You look... different. Seems like you're not just all talk about becoming a soldier."
Satya grinned widely, his chest puffed out. "Of course!" he replied with confidence. "I'll become a Holy Knight, Alicia. You'll see."
Alicia snorted, but a small smile appeared on her lips. "We'll see, muscle brain," she said, walking closer. "But seriously, you do look stronger. Grandpa must be working you to the bone."
Satya chuckled and nodded. "You don't know the half of it." He hesitated a moment before asking, "Uh, Alicia... can you teach me how to read and write? I heard I'll need to read magic books at the academy, but I... I don't really get it."
Alicia looked at him, her expression half surprised, half amused. "You? Reading and writing? This will be hilarious," she said. But then she nodded. "Alright, I'll teach you. But don't expect me to be nice!"
That afternoon, they sat in Leon's reading room. At a wooden table filled with old books, Alicia introduced the letters on a parchment, explaining each one patiently—though her patience seemed to thin by the minute. Satya frowned, trying to understand, but the letters danced before his eyes, hard to grasp.
"This is 'A', Satya, not a stick!" Alicia scolded after two hours with little progress, her voice slightly raised. "How can you be so good with a sword but have a brain like a bicep?"
Satya blushed, scratching his head. "Sorry, Alicia, this is hard! In my village, I only learned to count fish and plant rice!"
Alicia snorted but couldn't hold back her laughter. Her voice filled the room. "Muscle brain, that's your new name!" she said with a warm smile. "But you don't give up, so I'll give you points for effort. Come on, try again."
Satya smiled, feeling lighter even though his head felt full. For the first time, he truly felt Alicia was a friend—not just Leon's seemingly haughty granddaughter. They continued studying together, amid teasing and laughter. And though Satya still struggled, he felt a bit more confident. Alicia, usually impatient, showed another side—patient, though in her own way.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Alicia stood and brushed off her dress. "I have to go now," she said, her voice a little somber. "But you have to keep learning, Satya. Don't embarrass me for teaching you!"
"I'll keep learning," Satya replied with a nod. "Thank you, Alicia. You're a... decent teacher."
Alicia lightly punched his arm and laughed. "Decent? You're lucky to have me, muscle brain!" And with that, she ran toward the waiting carriage, waving briefly before disappearing down the road.
After Alicia left, Satya returned to his routine. Now in between training, he made time to study reading and writing. He scribbled letters on old parchment, mumbling simple words like "sword" and "knight" while resting from training. Though slow, he started to grasp some words, and every small progress gave him new motivation.
Time passed quickly. Two months slipped by unnoticed. One morning, Leon called Satya into the living room. His face was serious, but warmth glimmered in his eyes.
"Today is registration day," he said. "We're going to Aurumblade Academy, the best place in Asran to train future Holy Knights. Are you ready?"
Satya nodded, his heart pounding. "Aurumblade Academy," he murmured. The name sounded grand, full of hope and challenge. "I'm ready, Master."
They walked together toward the city center, passing streets still bearing remnants of the Victory Festival—faded lanterns and red cloth fluttering gently in the wind. Aurumblade Academy stood proudly on a small hill. Its building was magnificent, with tall towers and a golden sword emblem carved into the grand gate. Satya stared at it in awe. His dream was now just one step away.
Inside the building, a blue-robed registrar recorded Satya's name in a large book. "Satya, with Leon as guardian," he said while writing with a feathered pen. "You are officially registered. The exam will begin in a week. Be prepared."
Satya felt his chest swell. A mix of joy and tension coursed through his veins. He turned to Leon, who nodded with a proud yet stern expression.
"Don't let your guard down, Satya," Leon said. "This is just the beginning."
As they walked home, Satya looked up at Asran's blue sky. Aurumblade Academy, the soldier's exam, the Holy Knight—they all felt closer. He thought of his family, Alicia, and the promise he had made. He clenched his fist and whispered to himself, "I'm getting closer. I'll become a Holy Knight, no matter what it takes."
With burning spirit, he stepped back toward Leon's house, ready to face the trials that would change his life.